Meaning of Ladysmith Black Mambazo and the places the group performed #RIPJosephShabalala
By special invitation from South African President Nelson Mandela, they performed for the Queen of England and the Royal Family at the Royal Albert Hall in London
Doctor Joseph Shabalala sadly passed away in a Pretoria hospital this morning (February 11) at the age of 78.
In an exclusive interview with legendary lead singer, producer, father, composer and director Dr Joseph Bhekizizwe Shabalala on May 29, 2018, he explained the meaning of his group’s name and the places the group has performed.
“Ladysmith being the name of my rural hometown; Black is a reference to the span of oxen which was the strongest during ploughing times; and Mambazo being the Zulu word for axe, a symbol of the group’s ability to “chop down” any singing rival who might challenge us.”
In the mid-1980s, Paul Simon visited South Africa, where he incorporated Ladysmith Black Mambazo’s rich tenor/alto/bass harmonies into his Graceland album, the landmark 1986 recording that was considered seminal in introducing world music to mainstream audiences. Graceland won many awards, including the Grammy Award for Best Album of the Year.
A year later, Simon produced Ladysmith Black Mambazo’s first United States release, Shaka Zulu, which won a Grammy Award in 1988 for Best Traditional Folk Album. Since then, and in total, the group has received 19 Grammy Award Nominations and five Grammy Award wins, including one in 2018.
In addition to their work with Paul Simon, Ladysmith Black Mambazo has recorded with numerous artists from around the world, including Stevie Wonder, Josh Groban, Dolly Parton, Ben Harper and many others.
Their performance with Paul Simon on Sesame Street is legendary and is one of the top three requested Sesame Street segments in history.
Paul Simon played a critical role in Joseph Shabalala’s life, which is why Joseph gave him a special name; Vulindlela (open the way).
The group has been invited to perform at many special occasions. By special invitation from South African President Nelson Mandela, they performed for the Queen of England and the Royal Family at the Royal Albert Hall in London. Nelson Mandela used to call Mambazo South African cultural ambassadors.
The group has also performed at two Nobel Peace Prize Ceremonies, a concert for Pope John Paul II in Rome, the South African Presidential inaugurations, the 1996 Summer Olympics and many other special events.
In the summer of 2002, Black Mambazo was again asked to represent their nation in London at a celebration for Queen Elizabeth’s 50th Anniversary as Monarch. They shared the stage with Paul McCartney, Rod Stewart, Eric Clapton, Joe Cocker and Phil Collins.
In 2013, Joseph retired from the group. “It’s hard for a performer to leave the music.”
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